Mount Ophir is well known for its legendary beauty, however many people do not know it by this name as it is more widely known as Gunung Ledang. The mountain has become one of Johor’s most popular attractions especially amongst the birdwatchers and hikers. If you would like to reach the summit of the mountain there are two ways of doing so, the first one is through Sagil which is a town that is located in Johor while the other one is through Asahan which is actually located in the neighboring state of Malacca. For those who wish to reach the summit in a shorter time can take the route through Asahan. Gunung Ledang is considered to be one of the most popular mountains visited and it would not be peculiar to many people climbing the mountain.

For the Malaysians, they are already well acquainted with the legend surrounding that of Gunung Ledang. However for those that do not know, here is how the legend tells of the tale of Puteri Gunung Ledang. In the legends the princess was of slim built and medium height and as with all the legends the princess has stunning beauty. Her sinuous movement accentuated every curve of her little body and this naturally attracted a lot of men to her even that of the Sultan of Malacca which she eventually spurned. Instead the princess married another man known as Nakhoda Ragam, a great warrior. Despite being such a great hero, Nakhoda Ragam would eventually die at the hands of his own wife. Nokhoda Ragam surprised the princess by tickling her and she accidentally stabbed him with a needle, after he had died the princess eventually returned to Gunung Ledang, vowing never to set eyes on another man again. Nokhoda Ragam’s boat also plays a part in this sad tale, where it was claimed that during a storm the boat was crushed and the present islands off of the state of Malacca are the transformed debris from the wreckage.

The reason why this particular mountain is so popular is because the place is easily accessible and suitable for just about anyone especially the beginners who want to experience the feel of mountain climbing. Some even use the mountains as a training ground in preparation for their various activities.

You find that the Ledang trail starts from the Gunung Ledang resort, near the Sagil village that is close to the border of the state of Malacca and Johor. Besides the river is a paved road that will lead towards a few staircases until you reach an open gate and that’s when the real climbing towards the summit will beign. As mentioned before if you are not an experienced climber you can always try the Asahan trail located in Malacca as it is a much easier route.

The time to get to the summit has been estimated at about five hours, however if you want to get to the summit but do not want to climb you can always arrange for a 4WD transfer. This is a quicker and easier route up the mountain which interestingly enough will also offer you an equally beautiful view of the surrounding Sagil area as well as the splendid sight of the Gunung Ledang Dam.

Visitors to Gunung Ledang will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of flora that can be found here as it is believed that the mountain has the richest flora species anywhere in the world. There is also a 50 meter high waterfall located at the mountain that also has a wide drop of 50 meters. The icy cool waters charge down upon the large boulders located at the base of the waterfall that breaks into rushing rapids.

The waterfall is named “Puteri Waterfalls” and it was discovered some 50 years ago and since then the waterfall has witnessed thousands of tourists that come here to either picnic, backpack or just have fun in the cool and refreshing waters in the pool. You will be surrounded by lush tropical greenery as well as a variety of colorful insects such as giant butterflies, neon colored dragonflies and so on. Not forgetting is the orchestra of the jungle where you will be able to hear birds chirping and frogs croaking turning the jungle into a musical wonderland.

The summit of Gunung Ledang is just beyond some of the boulders and there is a flat ground located at the summit. On clear days you may even get to see some of the township located in the state of Johor such as Jementah and Segamat as well as the historical town of Malacca. Whether you believe in the legend or not Gunung Ledang will surely enchant you with its beauty and splendor.